They opened a residence for women who had nowhere to live, an orphanage for children who had no parents to look after them and a house where the poor could come and stay in Adelaide. The Sisters visited people who were in prison, poor and sick. Mary MacKillop showed compassion to all people, even if they did not agree with her. She passed away on 8 August 1909 in Alma Cottage, North Sydney. Mary helped many people during her lifetime and after she died, the Sisters of St Joseph kept on doing the good work she had started. Mary MacKillop not only had a vision for a more caring world, she spent her life helping people, especially children. That is why she is Australia’s first Saint. 

O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

"My dearest Mamma,

You are punishing me for my long delay in answering your last letter, but if you are well and your mind happy, I have cause to be thankful indeed. I never have cause to be anything else.

My Father Director has given me permission to write once a month to you – ‘tis now five weeks since I last wrote, and if my poor letters can give you any comfort, you shall, please God, have them regularly in future. My love and feeling for you have not cooled. I remember all the past but cannot grieve, nor can I when I think of your present lonely position, for at the same time I think of our dear, good and merciful God who has so honoured you and me, and it seems to me but a very poor offering I have to make Him when I lay your loneliness and sorrow before Him and beg of Him to accept my poor heart in spite of its unworthiness, and to be Himself your sweet and only Comforter.

Oh Mamma, if you but knew what the Sisters of St Joseph ought to be, and can be, too, if they but correspond with the graces they receive, you would rejoice more and more every day that you have one child amongst them and you would try to send another too. Now I suppose you will shake your head at this, but never mind, I am sure you won’t resist God’s Holy Will, and when the proper time comes, I hope dear Lexie will come too, but it will be sooner than you think, at least I hope so.

Did Peter like his letter? The poor child must have thought I had forgotten him. I cannot write more, for ‘tis time to go to bed – and I have not permission to sit up. You know I have to obey our holy Rule to the letter. Pray, my own dear Mamma, that I may have the grace to do so.

Monday morning – Father Woods is going to the North today and will see Donald. The poor boy will also think I am neglecting him – but when I know he is well, I do other things instead of writing to him. Give John my love when you write, and please tell him that, though I am a poor Nun at last, he may write to me.

Fond love to yourself and pray, dear Mamma for
Your affectionate child in J.M.J.
Mary of the Cross – Sister of St Joseph

Please write to me, and give Papa my love – ask him to write too."

Reprinted with permission from Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart 

This was a letter Mary wrote to her mum with many messages for other family members too. It was written to inform her mother on how she was doing and what the sisters and father have been doing. Also, to ask how her family is doing and to send her love to them. This letter also shows how much love and respect she has for her family and the conditions she was living under.

-Skwirk. (2018). Life for the Working Classes. Retrieved from http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-127_t-348_c-1204/nsw/history/australia-to-1914/life-in-australia-at-the-turn-of-the-century/life-for-the-working-class  

-Skwirk. (2018). Life and working conditions. Retrieved from http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-127_t-348_c-1203/life-and-working-conditions-/nsw/history/australia-to-1914/life-in-australia-at-the-turn-of-the-century 

-Catholic Mission. (2018). Mission- Saint Mary MacKillop. Retrieved from https://www.catholicmission.org.au/news/mediareleases/323-saint-mary-mackillop-her-call-to-the-poor-is-our-mission-too